Jerry and Phoebe Levine, the founders of the Bridgton 4 on the 4th Road Race, started running for exercise in 1975 and conducted the first four-mile race in December 1977 from their farmhouse on Chadbourne Road. Twenty-eight runners ran the race and finished with hot cider in the Levine’s kitchen. By 1982, the race had grown to several hundred runners, and the Levines moved away from Bridgton. Loraine and Jay Spenciner became the Race Directors and directed the race through 2002 when it was turned over to David Fadden. In 2004, the current Race Committee assumed direction of the race. The Race Committee members are all volunteers, as are the approximately 100 other people who make the race possible.
Originally run on Chadbourne and Upper Ridge Roads, the race was first moved to begin at the Bridgton Highlands Golf Course and end at Highland Lake, but because of increasing numbers and the difficulty of transporting runners to the start line at the golf course, the racecourse was changed in the 1980s to begin and end in the downtown area and certified by the USATF (USA Track & Field).
The race continues to attract a growing and faithful group of runners – now approaching 2100 runners, the course limit, from more than 35 states and numerous foreign countries. In 2001, New England Runner magazine named the race New England’s top race. In 2010, the race was inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame.
In 2016, a Kids Fun Run/Walk was added to the race agenda for the first time. The race is held on July 3 at 4:30 PM in the rear of Stevens Brook Elementary School and is for children ages 3 – 10. Participants can choose from three distances – ¼ mile, ½ mile, or 1 mile. Parents can accompany their children during the race/walk. All kids participating in the event receive a prize. Proceeds from the Kids Fun Run/Walk benefit the Children’s Room at the Bridgton Library.
Beneficiaries
From the beginning of the race and each year since the Bridgton 4 on the Fourth Road Race has supported the Bridgton Public Library. At least 90% of the race proceeds are donated to the library each year. These proceeds have allowed the library to provide programs and resources for the community, including free computer/internet use, wi-fi internet access, regular children’s craft and activity programs, upgraded collections, and special guest performers and entertainers.
Additionally, proceeds from the race have benefited the following charities and public service organizations: Bridgton Community Center, Bridgton Hospital Oncology Clinic, Bridgton Recreation Advancement Group, Christmas Angel Program, Hurricane Katrina Library Relief, Lakes Environmental Association, Lakes Region Senior Transportation Program, Project WARM/Fuel Assistance Program, Shawnee Peak’s Adaptive Ski Program, Pondicherry Park, Stevens Brook Elementary School Reading Boost Program, Rufus Porter Museum, Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition, Special Olympics, and Bridgton High School Scholarship Foundation.
For 2022, the race donated $45,000 to the Bridgton Public Library and another $5,000 to other non-profits in the Lakes Region.
Race Management
| President | Jim Cossey |
| Race Director | Bill Graham |
| Secretary | Bridgette Fuller |
| Treasurer | Donna Bleakney |
| Registration Coordinator | Jim Cossey/Roger Lowell |
| Race Consultant | Charles Scribner |
| Chief Road Marshal | Terry Brennan |
| Sponsorship | Bridgette Fuller/Alice Gold |
| Camp Coordinator | Scott Bleakney |
| Volunteer Coordinators | All |
| Publicity | Katie Chalmers |
| Kids Fun Run/Walk | Alice Gold |
| Website | Diane O’Brien Stillman |
Corporate Directors and Primary Race Committee Members 2003
Class of 2023: Donna Bleakney – Treasurer, Jason Fuller, Jim Cossey – President, Dave Sheldrick, Jess Gyger
Class of 2024: Bill Graham – Secretary & Race Director, Alice Gold, Terry Brennan, Roger Lowell, Bridgette Fuller.
Class of 2025: Scott Bleakney, Katie Chalmers, David Hursty, Chris Roy, Abby Warren
Other Race Committee Members: Dan Gyger, Richard Packard, Bob Lee
Race Advisor: Charles Scribner
Director Emeritus: Candy Gibbons, David Ehrman, John Schettinger, Will Libby
Bridgton, Maine, 4 on the Fourth 